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Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Pour the demerara sugar out onto a flat plate.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, Lebkuchen spices, and salt. Set aside.
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Beat the butter and dark brown sugar together on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
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Add the molasses and vanilla and beat until combined. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl, then continue to beat to make sure everything is combined.
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Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the dry ingredients until everything is combined.
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Taking one tablespoonful of dough at a time, roll the dough between your hands into a ball, then roll the ball in the demerara or raw sugar on the plate, and place the cookies on the baking sheet.
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If the dough is too sticky or soft to work with, cover the mixing bowl with plastic cling film and refrigerate the dough for 10-15 minutes. Wetting your hands slightly with water before handling the dough can also make it more manageable.
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Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes or until bottoms are slightly browned.
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Remove from the oven, transfer the cookies to a wire rack, and let cool completely.